Carmel Loughman

As Councilor-at-large my goals will be to implement best practices to achieve a highly functional Council; to encourage continued citizen participation in government; to engage in long-term planning, particularly on land use issues; and to ensure that Town Hall uses taxpayers’ dollars wisely. I believe firmly in research-focused and data-based decision making to inform my positions.

 

A business professional with an MBA in finance from NYU, I am trained in risk analysis which is  the process of identifying, assessing and controlling financial, legal, strategic and security risks to an organization’s capital and earnings. My 35 year career as Risk Manager for Fortune 100 companies spanned work in the insurance, copper mining, pharmaceutical, and beauty industries. Much of my career involved managing litigation against insurance companies to recover funds to clean up environmental sites, to obtain payment from insurers to claimants for asbestos-related injuries, and to direct other large property and serious product liability claims.

 

During my eight years on the Montclair Planning Board, I worked hard weighing the interests of developers with those of the community to reach balanced recommendations. Among many applications I reviewed, I am proud to have influenced the features of the Seymour Street project, the Westerly (Park St), the former Warner Communications building (Lorraine Ave), 65 Church St. (Hahnes parking lot), and Lackawanna Plaza Redevelopment Plan.

 

A Montclair resident for over 37 years, I have one son who attended Montclair schools, both public and private.  As past Treasurer and Communications Director of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters Montclair Area, I have a keen interest in voter education, civic participation, and good government practices. I attend St. James Episcopal Church where I served on the Vestry, ran fundraising campaigns, sat on the Insurance and Finance Committees, and took part in outreach activities such as soup kitchen cook, and thrift shop worker.

 

Participating as a volunteer in the civic life of Montclair has greatly enriched my life. I believe that “The purpose of life is to ease the journey for others.” I have no higher political ambition beyond effectively using my skills, expertise, and time as a committed public servant to make Montclair a better place for all its residents and businesses.